The issue of mental health among Australia’s doctors and medical students has been in the headlines. Four junior doctors from one cohort have taken their lives within six months. Last week, Australian gastroenterologist Andrew Bryant died in his office after battling depression.
The National Mental Health Survey of Doctors and Medical Students shows that the profession experiences higher rates of mental illness than the general community. Though doctors report that talking about it is taboo within the high-performing culture of medicine.
Dr Ranjana Srivastava writing for the Guardian said: “When it comes to mental illness, we hear a lot from the experts but not enough from the sufferers. Nothing would be more welcome than the insights of doctors who have endured mental suffering and worse, been on the brink of suicide. What healed them and who helped them? What could their colleagues have said or done differently at the time? What workplace adjustments would have meant the most? These stories are clearly among us – hearing them could illuminate the dark corners of our understanding and help link theory and practice.”
Share your experiences
We’d like to hear from doctors who have experienced mental health issues. What helped you through it? What could your colleagues have done differently at the time? You can share your experiences, anonymously if you prefer, by filling in the encrypted form below. We will do our best to keep your information secure. We will not publish any responses without contacting you first.
• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255
